Choosing Proper Length Oars

In Getting Started in Boats No. 38, which was bound into WB No. 230, we discussed how to choose a proper dinghy. In that article, we made reference to choosing oars of the proper length for your boat. Here’s a handy formula shared by the well-known wooden oar makers Shaw & Tenney of Orono, Maine (www.shawandtenney.com). —Eds.

Shaw & Tenney Oar Length Formula for Correctly Fitted Oars

Inboard length of the loom equals ½ the span between the oarlocks + 2″

Total length of oar equals 1/7 of inboard length multiplied by 25

Distance from the center of leather to end of grip equals 7/25 of the total length of the oar

Oars measured according to this formula will have a leverage ratio of 7:18.